Colorado Senate Approves Budget Money For Suicide Prevention

DENVER (CBS4) - A bill aimed at reducing Colorado's suicide rate passed the state Senate after weeks of tense negotiations.

Lawmakers set up a commission two years ago which included leaders from all over the state to recommend changes. The recommendations included a national zero suicide model to train health care workers in recognizing it and treating those at risk, but some lawmakers balked at the name.

"How many suicides are okay? In my book, I say zero, and I say why aren't we doing everything we can in every role possible across state to make sure that we don't have more suicides?" said Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton.

The compromise bill requires the state to establish a suicide prevention plan that incorporates several models.

Newell, the bill's sponsor, asked the Senate to budget money for the plan and on Wednesday it approved $100,000.